Closure for receptacles



Nov 2, 1954 J. GUICHARD 2,693,212

CLOSURE FDR RECEPTACLES Filed Jan. a, 1954 :5 Sheets-Sheet 1 N 2, 1954 J. GUICHARD 2,693,212

CLOSURE FOR RECEPTACLES Filed Jan. 8, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 2, 1954 Y GUICHARD CLOSURE FOR RECEPTACLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 8. 1954 United States PatentO 2,693,212 :crosnnn non RECEPTACLES Jean Guichard, Bry-surMarne, France, assignor to,

Emanuel :S tein, New York, N Y. Application January 8, 1954, Serial No.x402,909 10 Claims. 161. 150-10) This invention relates to receptacles .madeyof flexible spring-forming part working both in :flexure-and in torsion,

the two strips being traversed and connected at their corresponding ends by an axis of rotation arranged at right angles to their broader or flat faces.

The strips of said closure are either superimposed on each other, or juxtaposed, when in closed position. If juxtaposed, the articulation is effected either by shifting the ends so as to assure their overlapping, or by connecting them by pins to a short rigid transverse strip. The two strips are kept in closed position by the torsion resistance of the resilient parts composing them.

When pulling forces are exerted on the central parts of the strips so as to spread them apart from each other by causing them to pivot at their ends around the articulation or pivot pins, a torsion and a bending of the elastic elements is brought about at the same time, and when the strips arereleased, they automatically return to their closed position as long as the torsional force is greater than the bending force, which-is manifested by a frictional resistance at the pivoted ends in contact. As soon as the frictional resistance overcomes the torsional force, the two strips remain in the position which they occupy. In'thcir fully open position, the 'two strips, placed on edge, determine a contour which could be oval if the two strips consisted solely of spring blades, or rectangular when using the stiffening pieces of my invention, as here shown. The rectangle of my invention has more or less rounded corners, depending on the length of the elastic elements between the stifiening pieces.

One reason such 'a closure is of interest is because of I its low cost, resulting from the elimination of the locking 1 device generally used with conventional frames.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the rigid parts of the strips have the shape of rims or channels intended to be secured to the receptacle by placing the corresponding parts of the edges of the,

receptacle in the. channels and crimping or closing'the latter. The spring blade ends are connected to the chan' nels, for instance byrivethig, and the blades can advantageously pass. slidably through covering material arranged at suitable places on the edges of the receptacle.

To accomplish the foregoing objects, and other objects which will'hereinafter appear, my invention resides in the closure elements and the receptacle using the same, and their relation one to another, as are hereinafter more particularly described in the following spec'fication. The specification is accompanied by drawings, in which:

Figs. 1 and 3 are partial elevations, shown respectively in closed and in open position, of one embodiment of. a receptacle closure made in accordance with the invention; 2 is a fragmentary view on a larger scale than Figs. -4 and 5 show, in closed and open position respectively, a ladys bag provided with the above closure;

Figs. 6 and 7 show a variant or modification of the closure in plan view in closed position and in open position respectively;

Figs. 8 and 9 similarly show another modification in closed position and open position respectively;

2,693,212 Patented Nov. 2 1954 Figs. 10 and 11 show still another variant respectively in plan view and in elevation, both in closed position;

Fig. 12 is a section on a larger scale along the line XII-XII of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 13 shows this same closure in plan view, in open position.

The closure shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 consists of two superimposed strip-shaped braces A1, A2, articulated by means of pins 01, 02 arranged respectively at each end and directed at right angles to the large or flat faces of the strips. These pins may be rivets, as shown.

As will appear more clearly from Fig. 2, each strip A1, A2 consists of a spring blade a1, a2 made rigid at its central part and at each end by insertion respectively between two rigid strips b1, b2, and c1, c2, which may either be independent, or consist of the two arms of a yoke, that is, the two sides of a channel, the rigid attachment being imparted for instance by means of rivets Each closure therefore consists, as can be noted from Fig. 3 which shows it in open position, of a rigid central part b1, b2 connected with rigid ends 01, (:2, by springforming parts a1, a2. An elongated opening d2 (Fig. 2) permits a slight relative sliding of the corresponding ends of the strips. In the position shown in Fig. 3, the closure is stable, that is, it stays open of itself.

Figs. 4 and 5 show respectively a bag provided with a closure such as is shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the closure being shown in closed and open positions respectively. Two pull tabs t1, t2 facilitate opening the closure from the position of Fig. 4 to the position of Fig. 5.

In the modification shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the two strips A1, A2 are juxtaposed edge to edge, and the rigid end strips c1, on have lateral extensions e1 and e2 intended to be superimposed to receive the pivot pins 01, oz.

The same result may be obtained by using a strip which is straight in its central part and inclined towards the mating strip near each end, so that one of the ends of a first strip is placed against one face of the correspondingend 'of the mating strip, and the other end of the first strip against the face of the corresponding end of the second strip.

In the modification shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the two spring blades project beyond the rigid end strips 01, 02 to receive the pivot pins, and are articulated respectively by means of pins 01, 02, 0'1, 0'2 to the short transverse rigid strips f1, is. In open position the closure has the shape shown in Fig. 9.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 10 to 13 the rigid central part of each memberor element of the closure consists of a channel B1, B2 and each end part of a channel C1, C2 connected to the former by pairs of spring blades a1, a'1, a2, a'z fastened by means of rivets r1, rz respectively, the one under the upper flange and the other under the lower flange of each channel. A pin 01, 02, concealed by an embellishment H1, H2, articulates the end channels C1, C2.

In the open position, the two main members or strips constituting the closure occupy the position shown in Fig. 13. The spring blades a1, a1, a2, a'z may remain visible, as has been shown on the upper part of this figure, or on the other hand may be concealed in sheathings L1, as shown in the lower part of the figure.

In the example shown, the channels B1, B2 have ears P1, P2 respectively provided with a perforation or slot g1 intended to simplify the fastening of a pull strap to facilitate opening of the closure. shape in the example shown, are carried by the channel B1 and form a sort of yoke intended to receive and hold the channel B2 between 1ts arms when the closure is in Two parts I, J, of circular In the modification shown in Figs. 8 and 9 there are similar tabs ti and is to facilitate opening of the frame.

In the modification of Figs. 11-13 using metal channels, it will be understood that the edge of the bag material may be placed in and clamped by the channels.

It is believed that the construction and method of use of my improved closure and receptacle using the same, as Well as the advantages thereof, will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description. lit will also be apparent that while I have shown and described the invention in several preferred forms, changes may be made in the structures shown, without departing from the scope of the invention, as sought to be defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A frame for a receptacle, said frame comprising two metal strips pivotally joined at both ends, said strips being collateral and substantially straight when the receptacle is closed, said strips each having rigid end and central portions with resiliently bendable intermediate portions, the arrangement being such that when the central portions of the collateral strips are pulled apart each strip assumes the shape of three sides of a rectangle, with the free ends pivotally joined to form a complete rectangle.

2. A frame for a receptacle, said frame comprising two metal strips pivotally joined at both ends, said strips being collateral and substantially straight when the bag is closed, said strips each having rigid end and central portions with resiliently bendable intermediate portions, the arrangement being such that when the central portions of the collateral strips are pulled apart each strip assumes the shape of three sides of a rectangle with the free ends pivotally joined to form a complete rectangle, said pivots being disposed perpendicular to the flat faces of the strips so that the frame is self-locking in open rectangular position when the two halves are disposed diametrically opposite one another or at approximately 180 apart, but the said frame springing resiliently to closed position when moved part way in closing direction.

3. A frame for a receptacle, said frame comprising two metal strips pivotally joined at both ends, said strips being collateral and substantially straight when the receptacle is closed, said strips being thin flat resilient strips each having rigid pieces riveted thereto at their end and central portions, the arrangement being such that when the central portions of the collateral strips are pulled apart each strip assumes the shape of three sides of a rectangle with the free ends pivotally joined to form a complete rectangle.

4. A frame for a receptacle, said frame comprising two metal strips pivotally joined at both ends, said strips being collateral and substantially straight when the receptacle is closed, said strips being thin flat resilient strips each having rigid pieces riveted thereto at their end and central portions, the arrangement being such that when the central portions of the collateral strips are pulled apart each strip assumes the shape of three sides of a rectangle with the free ends pivotally joined to form a complete rectangle, said pivots being disposed perpendicular to the flat faces of the strips, so that they come into end to end alignment When the frame is opened.

5. A receptacle comprising a flexible body portion raving a top opening, and a metallic frame secured to he body portion at the top opening, said frame comprisng two strips pivotally joined at both ends, one of said trips being secured along one side of the bag opening tIld the other of said strips being secured along the other ide of said bag opening, said strips being collateral and ubstantially straight when the bag is closed, said strips ach having rigid end and central portions with resiliently endable intermediate portions, the arrangement being uch that when the central portions of the collateral trips are pulled apart each strip assumes the shape of [tree sides of a rectangle with the free ends pivotally )ined to form a complete rectangle.

6. A receptacle comprising a flexible body portion aving a. top opening, and a metallic frame secured to re body portion at the top opening, said frame compris- 1g two strips pivotally joined at both ends, one of said rips being secured along one side of the bag opening and the other of said strips being secured along the other side of said bagopening, said strips being collateral and substantially straight when the bag is closed, said strips each having rigid end and central portions with resiliently bendable intermediate portions, the arrangement being such that when the central portions of the collateral strips are pulled apart each strip assumes the shape of three sides of a rectangle with the free ends pivotally joined to form a complete rectangle, said pivots being disposed perpendicular to the flat faces of the strips so that the frame is self-locking in open rectangular position when the two halves are disposed diametrically opposite one another or at approximately apart, but the said frame springing resiliently to closed position when moved part way in closing direction. it

7. A receptacle comprising a flexible body portion having a top opening, and a metallic frame secured to the body portion at the top opening, said frame comprising two strips pivotally'joined at'both ends, one of said strips being secured along one side of the bag opening and the other of said strips being secured along the other side of said bag opening, said strips being collateral and substantiallystra'ight when the bag is closed, said strips being thin flat resilient strips each having rigid pieces riveted thereto at their end and central portions, the arrangement being such that when the central portions of the collateral strips are pulled apart each strip assumes the shape of three sides of a rectangle with the free ends pivotally joined to form a complete rectangle.

8.'A receptacle comprising a flexible body portion having a top opening, and a metallic frame secured to the body portion at the top opening, said frame comprising two strips pivotally joined at both ends, one of said strips being secured along one side of the bag opening and the other of said strips being securedalong the other side of said bag opening, said strips being collateral and substantially straight when thebag is closed, said strips being thin flat resilient strips each having rigid pieces riveted thereto at their end and central portions, the arrangement being such that when the central portions of the collateral strips are pulled apart each strip assumes the shape of three sides of a rectangle with the free ends pivotally joined to form a complete rectangle, said pivots being disposed perpendicular to the flat faces of the strips, so that they come into end to end alignment when e frame is opened.

9. A frame for a receptacle, saidframe comprising two metal strips pivotally joined at both ends, said strips being collateral and substantially straight when the receptacle is closed, said strips each having rigid end and intermediate portions with resiliently bendable. portions connecting said rigid portions, the arrangement being such that when portions of the collateral strips are pulled apart each strip assumes the shape of half of a polygon with the free ends pivotally joined to form a complete polygon.

10. A receptacle comprisinga flexible body portion having a top opening, and, a metallic frame secured to the body portion at the top opening, said frame comprising two strips pivotally joined at both ends, one of said strips being secured along one side of the bag opening and the other of said strips being secured along the other side of said bag opening, said strips being collateral and substantially straight when the bag is closed, said strips each having rigid end and intermediate portions with resiliently bendable portions connecting said rigid portions, the arrangement being such that when portions of the collateral strips are pulled apart each strip assumes the shape of half of a polygon with the free ends pivotally joined to form a complete polygon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,084,757 Alter June 22, 1937. 2,123,454 Doppelt July 12, 1938 2,227,390 Green Dec. 31, 1940 2,634,836 Warren Apr. 14, 1953 

